Man in the News: James Ward

Walking into the James Ward Mansion on East Broad Street can resemble entering a New Orleans home or a theme park designed on the Palace of Versailles. Strolling through the French decor and fountain off the dining room, one could almost expect an actress portraying Marie Antoinette to sashay past in search of some cake.

The catering facility towers over East Broad Street bearing the name of its owner, a developer who has become one of the most talked about men in Westfield. While his catering facility has gained attention and his condo complex, The Savannah on Prospect Street, continues to have residents questioning if the complex is viable, James Ward has gained attention in recent weeks for something else. Earlier this month, Ward revealed long-term plans to construct a 100-room boutique hotel in downtown Westfield. While stressing the project is in the preliminary stages and declining to reveal a location, Ward said he wants residents' opinions and that the building will not be in the center of downtown.

The developer entered the construction industry as a 15-year-old Irish immigrant. After working on home projects in Florida, Ward started developing his own construction teams and purchased several buildings in Elizabeth's port area, helped by several state urban renewal grants. By 1987, he had decided to gravitate to Westfield, purchasing the East Broad Street building now bearing his name.

"Westfield is interesting," he said. "I was very much involved in Cranford, Elizabeth and Linden. I always loved Westfield."

Ward bought the two side-by-side buildings, now painted red and yellow, with two goals in mind. He wanted to create a private residence on the upper floors of the red building and create luxury apartments in the yellow building.

"These were slums," Ward said of the buildings when he bought them. "They were very distressed apartments."

After renting out one building and moving into the other, which was decorated in the same French style now seen in the catering facility, Ward started to have other plans for his private home. Spending more of his time at the Shore, his sister suggested renting the space out for weddings and other occasions. As the business grew, Ward found that he had no time to live in the home, unless he wanted to share the house with an endless party. He moved out to the Shore full-time, creating a new catering business downtown.

Many of Ward's developments, including his building in Cranford and Westfield, share the common theme of New Orleans. Ward said this is no accident, as the Louisiana city is one of his favorites and incorporates architecture he enjoys.

"I love New Orleans, I love the history of New Orleans," he said. "I love the mix of architecture, it is a mix of French and Spanish. It is what is appealing to me."

Ward's condo complex came from his love of downtown living, with his wanting to gear a development towards residents over the age of 55 who are looking to stay in Westfield. Ward said it is no accident he wants to keep building in a suburban downtown.

"I lived in Europe and I visited the beautiful apartments in Paris above the stores," Ward said. "You'll find the same thing on Fifth Avenue. My goal was to live above stores in a beautiful downtown."

In addition to his own desire to live downtown, he believes others are looking for the same experience one might find in Hoboken or the Paulus Hook neighborhood of Jersey City. While some have described Morristown as the western Hoboken, Ward believes Westfield has the right to the title.

"Everything Hoboken offers, Westfield now offers," he said. "If you take a walk in downtown Westfield at night, you will see hundreds of people on the street."

Ward is not without criticism from some quarters in town. An online message board in town is bound to garner responses to any posts containing his name. Some have said he has used political connections in his work. Ward is close to town Republicans and his sister, Nancy, is a Democratic county freeholder.

Ward disagrees with any notion that he has utilized political connections to assist his business. He is quick to point out his Democratic heritage, noting that should not gain him favor in the Republican bastion of Westfield. He said he supports local Republicans because he believes in what they have done in the community and that his sister's role as a Democratic freeholder has never been popular in Westfield political circles.

"The Republicans do a wonderful job in running this town like a business," he said. "That's why I support the Republicans at the town level. I have never asked my sister for anything and she has not given me anything. She has no influence in a town like Westfield."